Communications with the Public
Investment Banking
Research AnalystsRule 2711

Executive Summary

NASD has filed for immediate effectiveness a proposed rule change
to codify certain interpretations under Rule 2711 (Research Analysts
and Research Reports). The interpretations include many that
previously were set forth in two joint interpretive memoranda.
The proposed rule changes also include additional interpretations
regarding the definition of research report, the distribution of
third-party research through soft-dollar arrangements, and the
supervisory requirements with respect to the distribution of both
member research and third-party research. This Notice also contains
two additional interpretations of the Rule 2711 provisions that
prohibit research analysts from participating in the solicitation of
investment banking business and road show presentations.

Questions/Further Information

Questions or comments concerning this Notice may be directed to
Philip Shaikun, Associate Vice President and Associate General
Counsel, Office of General Counsel, at (202) 728-8451.

Background and Discussion

On September 27, 2006, NASD filed for immediate effectiveness a
proposed rule change to amend Rule 2711 (Research Analysts and
Research Reports) to codify certain interpretations of the rule.
Most of the interpretations had previously been set forth in two
joint interpretive memoranda from NASD and the New York Stock
Exchange (NYSE) (NASD Notices to Members 02-39 (July 2002) and
04-18 (March 2004)) and include those related to the definitions
of "research report" and "public appearance" and disclosure
requirements when distributing third-party research.

The rule change codifies an interpretation not contained in the joint interpretive
memoranda that communications that constitute statutory prospectuses filed as part
of the registration statement are not considered "research reports," even if they meet
the definitional elements.

Additionally, the rule change does not incorporate language from previous interpretive
guidance that exempted independent third-party research provided through a soft
dollar arrangement from the third-party research rules. The new rule language treats
such soft dollar research the same as any other third-party research. A member is not
considered to have "distributed" such research where a member makes an independent
third-party research report available to its customers either upon request or through a
member-maintained Web site; however, this exception does not apply to non-member
affiliate research that is either requested by a customer or made available on a
member-maintained web site. NASD understands that generally member firms that
distribute independent third-party research through a soft dollar arrangement do so
only upon customer request. Thus, the new language does not represent any practical
change from the previous interpretation. However, in the event that arrangements
exist where a member "distributes" research pursuant to a soft dollar arrangement,
then the same obligations would apply as with any other third-party research.

The rule change also clarifies the supervisory responsibilities when distributing thirdparty
research. All third-party research distributed by a member must be reviewed by a
designated principal (either a Series 24 or a Series 16 Supervisory Analyst) to determine
that the third-party disclosures required by Rule 2711, if applicable, are complete and
accurate. Consistent with Rule 2210(d)(1)(B), no member may distribute any third-party
research that the member knows or has reason to know contains any untrue statement
of a material fact or is otherwise false or misleading. A member's obligation to review
the content of a third-party research report in this regard extends to any untrue
statement of a material fact or any false or misleading information that (1) should
be known from reading the report or (2) is known based on information otherwise
possessed by the member. A member is not required to validate the preparing firm's
methodologies, analysis or judgment or, where the preparing firm is an NASD or NYSE
member, to verify the completeness and accuracy of that firm's disclosures. For the
purposes of this requirement, the term "distributed" has the same meaning as set forth
above. Thus, the supervisory requirement does not apply to research reports prepared
by an independent third party that the member makes available to its customers either
upon request or through a member-maintained Web site.

There are separate requirements for those persons that approve a member's own
research reports, depending on the scope of the review. Research reports prepared by a
member still must be approved by an individual who has passed either (1) the Series 24
and the Series 87 or (2) the Series 16. A member may elect to have a Series 16 approve
the content of research, and then a Series 24 principal who has also passed either the
Series 87 or the Series 16 must supervise the conduct of both the Series 16 Supervisory
Analyst and the research analyst. See Rule 1022(a)(5) and NASD Notice to Members
04-81 (November 2004). Similar to the approach set forth above regarding the approval
of third-party research, NASD will permit any registered principal or a Series 16
Supervisory Analyst to supervise for compliance with the disclosure provisions (only)
of Rule 2711. All other content of the research report must continue to be approved by
an individual who has passed either the Series 24 and the Series 87, or the Series 16.
NASD reminds members that in accordance with Rule 3010 (Supervision), all personnel
reviewing both member and third-party research must be qualified by virtue of
experience and training to carry out such review.

The new rule language is set forth in Attachment A to this Notice and became effective
upon filing on September 27, 2006.

Additional Interpretations Not Contained in the Rule Filing

NASD also is setting forth two additional interpretations regarding the provisions of
Rule 2711 that prohibit research analyst participation in the solicitation of investment
banking business and road shows presentations.

Solicitation of Investment Banking Business

Rule 2711(c)(4) provides that "[n]o research analyst may participate in efforts to solicit
investment banking business. Accordingly, no research analyst may, among other
things, participate in any "pitches" for investment banking business to prospective
investment banking clients or have other communications with companies for the
purpose of soliciting investment banking business." Members have inquired whether
this provision bans all research-related references in a pitch book or related presentation
materials. NASD interprets the provision to prohibit in pitch materials any information
about a member's research capacity in a manner that suggests, directly or indirectly,
that the member might provide favorable research coverage. For example, NASD would
consider the publication in a pitch book or related materials of an analyst's industry
ranking to imply the potential outcome of future research because of the manner in
which such rankings are compiled. On the other hand, a member would be permitted
to include in the pitch materials the fact of coverage and the name of the research
analyst because such information alone does not imply favorable coverage.1

Road Show Participation

Rule 2711(c)(5) and (6) prohibit research analysts from participating in road shows
related to investment banking services transactions and from engaging in any
communications regarding investment banking services transactions with current or
prospective customers or internal sales personnel in the presence of investment banking
personnel or company management. Investment banking personnel also are prohibited
from directing a research analyst to engage in sales or marketing efforts or to engage
in any communication with a current or prospective customer related to investment
banking transactions.

NASD interprets this provision to permit research analysts to listen to (in "listen-only"
mode, not identified as being present), or view a live webcast of a road show or other
widely attended presentation to investors or the sales force, so long as access is from
a remote location (i.e., not at the same address as investment banking, investors or
the sales force). Further, if the road show or other widely attended presentation to
investors or the sales force is conducted at the firm's offices, research personnel may
listen from the same address as investment banking but may not be in the same room
as investment banking, investors or the sales force.

1 Members must consider whether the facts
and circumstances of any solicitation or
engagement would warrant disclosure under
Section 17(b) of the Securities Act of 1933.

ATTACHMENT A

New language is underlined; deletions are in brackets.

2711. Research Analysts and Research Reports

(a) Definitions

For purposes of this rule, the following terms shall be defined as provided.

(1) "Equity security" has the same meaning as defined in Section 3(a)(11) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

(2) No Change.

[(2)] (3) "Investment banking services" include, without limitation, acting as an underwriter or participating in a selling group in an offering for the issuer; acting as a financial adviser in a merger or acquisition; providing venture capital, equity lines of credit, private investment, public equity transactions (PIPEs) or similar investments; or serving as placement agent for the issuer.

[(3)] (4) "Member of a research analyst's household" means any individual whose principal residence is the same as the research analyst's principal residence. This term does not include an unrelated person who shares the same residence as a research analyst provided that the research analyst and unrelated person are financially independent of one another.

[(4)] (5) "Public appearance" means any participation in a conference call, seminar, forum (including an interactive electronic forum) or other public speaking activity before 15 or more persons or before one or more representatives of the media, radio, television or print media interview, [or other public speaking activity, ]or the writing of a print media article, in which a research analyst makes a recommendation or offers an opinion concerning an equity security. This term does not include a password protected Webcast, conference call or similar event with 15 or more existing customers, provided that all of the event participants previously received the most current research report or other documentation that contains the required applicable disclosures, and that the research analyst appearing at the event corrects and updates during the public appearance any disclosures in the research report that are inaccurate, misleading or no longer applicable.

[(5)] (6) No Change.

[(6)] (7) No Change.

[(7)] (8) No Change.

[(8)] (9) "Research Report" means [a] any written [or] (including electronic) communication that includes an analysis of equity securities of individual companies or industries, and that provides information reasonably sufficient upon which to base an investment decision. This term does not include:

(A) communications that are limited to the following:

(i) discussions of broad-based indices;

(ii) commentaries on economic, political or market conditions;

(iii) technical analyses concerning the demand and supply for a sector, index or
industry based on trading volume and price;

(iv) statistical summaries of multiple companies' financial data, including listings
of current ratings;

(v) recommendations regarding increasing or decreasing holdings in particular
industries or sectors; or

(vi) notices of ratings or price target changes, provided that the member
simultaneously directs the readers of the notice to the most recent research report on the
subject company that includes all current applicable disclosures required by this rule and
that such research report does not contain materially misleading disclosure, including
disclosures that are outdated or no longer applicable;

(B) the following communications, even if they include an analysis of an individual equity
security and information reasonably sufficient upon which to base an investment decision:

(i) any communication distributed to fewer than 15 persons;

(ii) periodic reports or other communications prepared for investment company
shareholders or discretionary investment account clients that discuss individual securities in
the context of a fund's or account's past performance or the basis for previously made
discretionary investment decisions; or

(iii) internal communications that are not given to current or prospective
customers; and

(C) communications that constitute statutory prospectuses that are filed as part of the
registration statement.

[(9)] (10) No Change.

(b) through (g) No Change.

(h) Disclosure Requirements

(1) through (3) No Change.

(4) Meaning of Ratings

If a research report contains a rating, [A] the member must define in [its] the research report[s] the
meaning of each rating used by the member in its rating system. The definition of each rating must be
consistent with its plain meaning.

(5) Distribution of Ratings

(A) through (B) No Change.

(C) The information that is disclosed under paragraphs (h)(5)(A) and (h)(5)(B) must be current as of the end of the most recent calendar quarter (or the second most recent calendar quarter if the publication date is less than 15 calendar days after the most recent calendar quarter) and must reflect the distribution of the most recent ratings issued by the member for all subject companies, unless the most recent rating was issued more than 12 months ago.

(D) The requirements of paragraph (h)(5) shall not apply to any research report that does not contain a rating.

(6) Price Chart

If a research report contains either a rating or a price target, and the [A] member [must present in any research report concerning an equity security on which the member] has assigned [any] a rating or price target to the subject company's securities for at least one year, the research report must include a line graph of the security's daily closing prices for the period that the member has assigned any rating or price target or for a three-year period, whichever is shorter. The line graph must:

(A) through (C) No Change.

(7) Price Targets

If a research report contains a price target, the [A] member must disclose in the research report[s] the valuation methods used to determine [a] the price target. Price targets must have a reasonable basis and must be accompanied by a disclosure concerning the risks that may impede achievement of the price target.

(8) through (10) No Change.

(11) Disclosures in Research Reports Covering Six or More Companies

When a member distributes a research report covering six or more subject companies (a "compendium report"), for purposes of the disclosures required in paragraph (h), [such research] the compendium report may direct the reader in a clear manner as to where they may obtain applicable current disclosures [in written or electronic format]. Electronic compendium reports may include a hyperlink to the required disclosures. Paper-based compendium reports must provide either a toll-free number to call or a postal address to write for the required disclosures and may also include a web address of the member where the disclosures can be found.

(12) No Change.

(13) Third-Party Research Reports

(A) Subject to paragraph (h)(13)(B), if a member distributes or makes available any
research report that is produced by another member, a non-member affiliate of the member or
an independent third party, the member must accompany the research report with the current
applicable disclosures, as they pertain to the member, that are required by paragraphs (h)(1)(B),
(h)(1)(C), (h)(2)(A)(ii) and (h)(8) of this Rule.

(B) The requirements of paragraph (h)(13)(A) shall not apply to research reports prepared
by an independent third party that the member makes available to its customers either upon
request or through a member-maintained web site.

(C) A registered principal (or supervisory analyst approved pursuant to Rule 344 of the
New York Stock Exchange) must approve by signature or initial any third-party research distributed
by a member. All third-party research distributed by a member must be reviewed by the designated
principal (or supervisory analyst approved pursuant to NYSE Rule 344) to determine that the
applicable disclosures required by Rule 2711 are complete and accurate, and the content of the
research report is consistent with all applicable standards regarding communications with the public.